A couple of years ago I was heading down Silver Lake Road in Argentine Twp and after rounding the corner, and at the top of the hill, was this old house. I knew nothing about the house, and it was the first time I ever saw it, but I had to stop and take a photo of it. Like most old houses I photograph, I know nothing about their history, but after posting a pic I had a few people tell me that was the house where a Michigan State Trooper was killed.
Michigan State Trooper Albert Souden
On September 3rd 1959 Trooper Albert Souden had driven to the house to investigate a robbery in Millford. His wife called the post to report he had never returned home. Within minutes of determining Trooper Souden had disappeared, the department mobilized an intensive search. The public response was also immediate. Floods of citizens, sheriff’s deputies, municipal police officers, and members of the Army and National Guard volunteered to join the ground and air search. The police arrested Alvin Knight the next day at a cabin in Traverse City. Knight was an ex-convict with a history of breaking the law and even spent time in an institution for the criminally insane. After repeated interrogations he would not tell law enforcement officers anything. It was only after Alber Soudens wife pleaded with him that he finally cracked and lead officers to the body and explained what happened.
When Trooper Souden knocked on the door the suspect was in his pajamas and he asked the trooper if he could change. After going upstairs to change he grabbed a gun and then got the drop on the officer and took his service revolver. He forced him at gunpoint to drive his patrol car to a farm and then marched him into the woods where he intended to tie him up so he would have time to escape, but Trooper Souden made an attempt to get away so he shot him with his revolver and buried him with some vegetation. Knight plead guilty to second degree murder, and was sentenced to 25 years.
Trooper Alber Souden was 29 years old and had a 7 month old baby, He was the 22nd MSP officer to die in the line of duty.
As for the house, it’s gone now. It was demolished a few years ago shortly after I took this photo.
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